{A new heaven and a new earth} (ouranon kainon kai g(886e)
kain(886e)). This new vision (eidon) is the picture of the bliss
of the saints. {The first heaven and the first earth} (ho pr(9374)os
ouranos kai h(8820)pr(9374)(8820)g(885c)) {are passed away} (ap(886c)than, went
away, second aorist active indicative of aperchomai). "Fled
away" (ephugen) in  20:11 . {And the sea is no more} (kai h(880a)thalassa ouk estin eti). The sea had given up its dead
( 20:13 ). There were great risks on the sea ( 18:17ff. ). The
old physical world is gone in this vision. It is not a picture of
renovation of this earth, but of the disappearance of this earth
and sky (not heaven where God dwells). It is a glorious picture
here in  21:1-8  in sharp contrast to the lake of fire in
 20:11-15 . The symbolism in neither case is to be pressed too
literally, but a stern and a glorious reality exists behind it
all.